The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. The poem explores Odysseus's encounters with various mythical creatures, divine interventions, and natural challenges. Upon his return to Ithaca, he must confront the suitors who have been vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage. With the help of his son Telemachus and the goddess Athena, Odysseus devises a plan to defeat the suitors and reclaim his throne. The poem is a reflection on human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions, and it remains a crucial component of ancient Greek literature and Western cultural heritage.
Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno's "Dialectic of Enlightenment" is a complex and influential work of critical theory, exploring the relationship between reason, myth, and domination. The authors argue that the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason has paradoxically led to new forms of domination and control. They trace the development of instrumental reason, which reduces everything to means-ends calculations, and its role in shaping modern society. The book explores the interplay between reason and myth, arguing that myth is not simply irrational but can also be a source of critical insight. "Dialectic of Enlightenment" remains a challenging but rewarding read, offering profound insights into the complexities of modernity and the dangers of unchecked rationality.
Juliette, by the Marquis de Sade, is a controversial novel that pushes the boundaries of sexual and moral transgression. It follows the protagonist Juliette's journey as she embraces libertinism and hedonism, defying societal norms and religious constraints. The novel explores themes of power, desire, and the consequences of unchecked impulses. Sade's writing style is characterized by its explicit descriptions and philosophical reflections on morality and freedom. Juliette remains a significant work in literary history, sparking debate and analysis on its themes and artistic merit.
In this video, I look at the first part of Adorno and Horkheimer’s Dialectic of Enlightenment: Philosophical Fragments. I takes an introductory look a the first three parts: The Concept of Enlightenment; Excursus I: Odysseus or Myth and Enlightenment; and Excursus II: Juliette or Enlightenment and Morality.The first part, through some general reflections on Enlightenment, reason, mythology, and totalitarianism, poses that all four are already intertwined. For Adorno and Horkheimer, ‘Myth is already enlightenment; and enlightenment reverts to mythology.’In the two ‘excursus’ they interpret the Odyssey, Marquis de Sade, and Nietzsche, as backing up this claim. What makes mythology and enlightenment the same? Odysseus is the proto-bourgeois individual using his logic to manipulate nature through instrumental reason so he get home. De Sade uses his logic to get what his passions desire. And Nietzsche is famous for his ‘will to power.’ In all of this, we can see the philosophical roots on totalitarianism.Both enlightenment and mythology attempt to naturalise the universal rule – attempt to dominate the individual based on an eternal rule of instrumental reason. Even magic was an exchange – a deal with nature, with the gods, to preserve man. All are based on the same logic.Whether its the codified myth of Scylla and Charybdis. The rationality of working out your desire and convincing others to follow it – if objects are valueless – to be used for the purposes of self-preservation – why would this not apply to people too?Then & Now is FAN-FUNDED! Support me on Patreon and pledge as little as $1 per video: http://patreon.com/user?u=3517018
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Then & Now: Philosophy, History & Politics 
